Nozzle Surface Wiping Control for Variable-Viscosity Liquids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in satisfactorily removing liquid from nozzle surfaces due to variations in viscosity and surface tension, leading to incomplete wiping by the wiper.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus determines the wiper's moving velocity based on parameters including the receding and equilibrium contact angles and viscosity of the liquid, using a controller to optimize wiping efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper moving velocity is set based only on viscosity and surface tension, then the wiping process is simple, but liquid may remain unwiped on the nozzle surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by expanding the control parameters from merely viscosity and surface tension to include receding contact angle and equilibrium contact angle. This allows the wiper moving velocity to be precisely adjusted based on multiple liquid properties, ensuring complete wiping while maintaining controlled complexity through systematic parameter selection.
2Productivity
If the wiper moves faster to increase productivity, then wiping efficiency improves, but liquid may not be thoroughly removed from the nozzle surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the wiper moving velocity variable rather than fixed. The velocity is dynamically adjusted based on the liquid's receding contact angle and equilibrium contact angle, allowing the system to optimize between wiping speed and completeness for different liquid conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
3Loss of time
If the wiper moving velocity is increased to reduce processing time, then time efficiency improves, but the liquid may not be satisfactorily wiped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes to determine optimal wiper velocity based on receding contact angle and equilibrium contact angle. This ensures that the wiping process is completed in minimum necessary time while maintaining high wiping quality, as the velocity is precisely tailored to the liquid's properties rather than using fixed or excessive speeds.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces the occurrence of unwiped liquid on nozzle surfaces by considering the specific properties of the liquid, ensuring thorough removal.
Implementation Method 1
a moving velocity of the wiper is determined based on the receding contact angle of the liquid and the viscosity of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
second parameter according to a viscosity of the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a head having a nozzle surface in which a nozzle is opened; a wiper configured to move relative to the head in a state that the wiper is in contact with the nozzle surface; and a controller. The controller is configured to move the wiper relative to the head based on a moving velocity determined based on parameters including first parameter according to a receding contact angle of a liquid to be discharged from the nozzle and second parameter according to a viscosity of the liquid.